In: Economics
44. Which of the following is an assumption of the law of diminishing returns?
All variable inputs, like workers, are of the same quality
Capital and labor are both variable inputs
Average product is increasing
Technology changes in the short-run
45. A firm's marginal cost equals
Change in quantity divided by the change in variable cost
Slope of its total cost curve
Change in quantity divided by the change in total cost
Slope of its fixed cost curve
46. Which of the following would be a variable cost for a car manufacturer?
The cost of building the factory for production
Yearly property taxes for the factory building
Interest payment on a lean used to purchase capital
The cost of steel used to build cars
Answer 44
Option 1 is correct. All variable inputs like workers are of same quality.
In law of diminishing returns, it is assumed that neither the technology and nor the quality of any variables changes. Both remain same. This indicates that option 4 is incorrect. Assumptions do not say anything regarding average product, therefore, it is not the correct option. Only one factor remains variable whereas all others are fixed. Therefore, only option 1 is correct.
Answer 45
Option 2 is correct. Slope of total cost curve.
Marginal cost is the additional cost of production that arises due to addition variable input. Hence, the slope of the total cost curve is the marginal cost.
If we divide change in quantity by change in variable cost, we will get change in marginal quantity with respect to variable cost which is not a marginal cost. Hence this option is not correct.
Similarly, if we divide change in quantity by change in total cost, we get marginal quantity with respect to total cost which is again not marginal cost. Therefore, it is not a correct option.
There is no marginal cost in fixed cost curve because fixed cost remains same. Therefore, option 4 is also not correct.
Answer 46
Option 4 is correct. Cost of steel used in car manufacturing.
The cost of steel is a variable cost, as prices of steel are not fixed in the short run.
Building factory, yearly property tax on building, interest payment on loan of factory are fixed as they cannot be changed in short run. Therefore, option 1, 2 and 3 are not correct.